Video Surveillance in Nightlife Venues Goes Nationwide

Since 2012, over 55,000 security video cameras have been installed in Ecuador's taxis and buses, over 2,000 on public streets and roads, and over 1,400 in schools.

Starting this Monday (March 30, 2015) video cameras will become mandatory in nightlife venues including nightclubs, bars and motels.

Ecuador's Interior Ministry, acting on a measure passed in late January, is requiring such businesses to install the cameras in "strategic locations" by the 30th or risk permanently losing their operating licenses.

As part of the new requirements, these businesses will be required to provide one security guard for every 50 patrons.

A ministry statement says the new policy should "strengthen citizen security."  The aim is to track the movement of teenagers, weapons and any illegal activity, according to the police superintendent of Guayas Province, without violating citizens' privacy.

Images must be recorded, archived for six months and made available to the authorities upon request.

source:  Pan Am Post